Delinting sweep



A118- 9, 1960 L. TAMSBERG 2,948,003

DELINTING swEEP Filed June 19. 195e TTORNEY States VPatented Aug. a, 1960 DELINTING SWEEP Louise Tamsberg, 240 W. 14th` St., New York 11, N.Y.

Filed June 19, 1958, Ser. No. 743,191 3 Claims. (Cl. 15-1.5)

lated detritus, will operate with the same efficiency as when the device was new.

Another object of this invention is to provide a delinter or sweep device` as aforesaid, having an extremely low cost of production, and which is likewisei-notfensive as Atoappearance, as compared with brushes or like devices heretofore employed to perform the same functions.

In known delinting devices, such as brushes and whisk brooms, the facility for removing lint and like detritus decreases sharply with use, and the assembly of bristle elements is costly. A reason for such decreased etlicienc'y lies inthe fact that such known devices become -lled with accumulated detritus, which will become redeposited upon fabric surfaces sought to be cleaned. The eiciency of a brush which has been used even for a relatively short period of time is greatly reduced since detritus which has become accumulated wit-hin the brush is deposited upon thefabric sought to be cleaned at a rate nearly equal to that the fabric is collected by the brush.

Users of brushes and Whisk brooms have been forced to clean these -appliances frequently, and as is well known in the art, the frequent cleaning of a brush, particularly `a hog bristle brush, is not only destructive of the brush but involves a tedious and objectionable operation.

I have discovered that by the provision of aV delinter or sweep having a cleaning portion of a stiff open Weave fabric or net material, such as woven mesh net made of hydrophobic synthetic fibres or yarns, of which polyesters, polyvinyls, polyamides or polyethylene yarns are examples, that I have been able to provide a delinter which may be used effectively for long periods of time without having a tendency for accumulated lint or detritus to be redeposited upon the fabric to be cleaned.

Moreover, a delinter in accordance with my invention may be washed or cleansed without requiring the complicated and deleterious procedures incident to the cleaning of conventional bristle delinters, such as whisk brooms or the usual clothes brushes. Furthermore, I have determined that a delinter in accordance with my invention may be compactly packaged, as compared with conventional clothes brushes or whisk brooms since, unlike the latter two devices which utilize bristles and like expedients which may be ruined by undue brushing or deformation, my device may be crushed or folded without affecting its efliciency.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide with which the detritus already upon a sweep or delinter which may be manufactured at a price highly economically favorable in comparison with the aforesaid bristled devices.

A further object of my invention is to provide a delinter or sweep of the type described which, even after prolonged use, is substantially free from the tendency to redeposit accumulated detritus upon fabricsto be cleaned.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a delinter as aforesaid which makes use of both electrostatic and mechanical expedients to provide a highly etiicient lint and detritus removing action.

A further object of my invention is to provide a delinter 0f the type described Which may be facilely washed without the exercise of the care necessarily involved in the proper cleansing of bristled lint removers.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a delinter of the type described which is susceptible of being conveniently stored in a manner to require a minimum of space, thereby providing a device which may be carried in a small area, such as in a pocket or pocketbook.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part here# Figure 2 is an isometric view of bla-nks used in mak-l ing my device, prior to assembly;

Figure 3 is a magnified section taken on the lines 3-A'-3;

of Figure l;V

:Figure 4 is a magnified plan view of a preferred typen" 4 of fabric used for my invention.

i and the polyamine family, of which nylon, Daeron, Mylar? are examples. As will be seen from Figure 4,'the' fabricV of blanks B is of the open mesh typt., Suchas net, to.A

provide a wide cellular structure for purposes which will appear hereafter, with n t-he individual filaments either.

i monofilm or yarn of crisp, relatively stiti or` springy nature. The blanks forming my device may be of circular` outline and are substantially quarter-folded unsymnretrir"l cally to form quadrant segments or cones which are then' nested and secured together by passing a string or loop 10 through apertures 11 formed in the net blanks. The loop 10, with the blanks thus threaded thereover, may then be passed through the aperture l2 in the neck portion 13 of a frusto-conical ferrule 14, preferably of metal or plastic. As will be seen, the neck portion 13 of the ferrule 14 being narrower than the throat portion 15 of the said ferrule will, upon drawing the knot 16 of the loop 10 Atightly against the throat of the said ferrule, cause the central portions of the blanks B to be drawn inside the ferrule, thus causing the other portions of said blanks to assume a semipyramidal configuration, as will be seen from Figures l and 3.

With the knot and blanks thus positioned, the ferrule may be crimped or otherwise compressed, to retain the assembly in the position shown in Figure 3.

While it is not absolutely essential to the successful operation of my device, I have determined that by providing the edge portions E of the -blanks B with a raw cut edge, as seen in Figures 2 and 4,- and by thereby allowing free filament ends to form the said edge, the eiciency of my device in lremoving detritus from fabrics, particularly rugous fabrics, such as serge and corduroy, is greatly augmented.

Likewise, I have determined that by making the fabric blank portions of my device of a material having a tendency to accumulate a static charge upon frictional contact with fabrics, the efficiency of my device is augmented. A possible explanation for the added efficiency obtained through the use of such materials is the combined electrostatic and mechanical cleaning .action believed to occur ,through the use of Vsuch electrostatic accumulatingy materials, laments or fabrics, of which hydrophobic synthetic yarn or monofilaments are examples, particularly when untreated with a-ntistatic compositions.

Likewise, while I attribute the improved efficiency of my device in -resisting the tendency to redeposit accumulated detritus to the'cellular or net structure of my device, whichI believe envelops and retains such detritus, I am not to bebound by this theoretical explanation, as the crispness of the net `and integrated filaments thereof likewise may be -said to contribute to the unobvious property I have discovered.

To rid a lint-filled sweep of accumulated detritus, it is merely necessary to submerge the same in water, and preferably Water containing a small amount of soap or detergent.

Where the filaments forming the blanks are made of the preferred polyvinyl, polyamide, polyethylene and polyester families as aforesaid, of which nylon, Daeron and Mylar are examples, there is little tendency of the device to lose stiffness and become limp even after repeated washings. Furthermore, washing as aforesaid tends to dissipate any electrostatic charge which may have been built up `on the materials, thereby. further tending to cause their release from the net or mesh.

Because of the known shape-retaining properties of the preferred materials as aforesaid, it is possible, without damage to my device, to fold, crush or otherwise de-y for-m the -net portion thereof, thereby permitting the storage of the device in a pocket or pocketbook.

Likewise, the presence of this device on a dressing table does not detract from an aesthetic decor but, in fact, makes for a highly decorative device.

While I have ydescribed and illustrated my device as used in connection with a series of blanks, it should be understood that, without varying `from the spirit of my invention, a single blank with a multiplicity of quadrant folds may be used.

Many other forms and configurations of initial and formed blanks will readily suggest themselves in the light of my disclosure and it is to be understood that my disclosure is not to be limited to the specific shape of device shown,

Also, my invention is not to be taken as restricted to the materials indicated to be preferred, by way of example, but rather should be broadly interpreted to include materials known and which by test may be determined to have the 4general characteristics as herein described.

Furthermore, it should be readily recognized that disposable blank members may be used in conjunction with a removable retaining handle, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim -as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A sweep for removing lint and other detritus from a fabric surface or the like comprising .a blank member of crisp, stiff, open 'net fabric made of lamented, static accumulating material, and formed to provide a gripping portion and a cleansing portion, the said cleansing portion comprising a serrated edge presenting .outwardly directed free filament portions.

2. A device in accordance with claim l wherein said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,591,425 1,714,508 Keele May 28, 1929 2,204,947 Apfelbaum June 18, 1940 2,433,695 Hoffman Dec. 30, 1947 2,621,393 Riding Dec. 16, 1952 2,732,574 Gesell etal Jan. 3l, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 504,541 Germany Aug. 6, 1930 OTHER REFERENCES Progress Report on Plastics Monoilaments in Modern Plastics, page 75, dated November 1949.

Kingman July 6, 1926 

